POLICE BRIEFS - 1/30/14

Two local men were arrested on multiple charges after one of them fired a gun at another vehicle in the parking lot of the United Methodist Church of Chugiak on Jan. 20.

Chugiak’s Jonathon Nesbitt-McDaniel, 22, was charged with tampering with evidence, fourth-degree misconduct involving a weapon and third-degree assault, said Anchorage Police spokesperson Dani Myren. Wade Williams, 18, of Peters Creek, was charged with two counts of third-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree misconduct involving a weapon and tampering with evidence.

The incident started when a vehicle pulled into the church parking lot where Williams and Nesbitt-McDaniel were in a vehicle together, Mryen said. The victims in the other car, who had a prior dispute with Williams and Nesbitt-McDaniel, pulled into the lot to “give Williams the finger,” she said.

After a brief exchange of words, Myren said, Nesbitt-McDaniel exited the vehicle with a firearm and shot at the other car as it drove past. There were no injuries and minor damage to the right rear tire of the victims’ car, she said.

Williams and Nesbitt-McDaniel were taken to Anchorage Jail with bail set at $6,000 apiece.

Multiple guns stolen from Boondock Sporting Goods

On Jan. 18, Boondock Sporting Goods in Eagle River reported four firearms were stolen. The missing guns were discovered while conducting inventory, Myren said.

Two of the guns are worth $600 and $700, but Myren did not have an estimated value of the other two firearms.

Thefts at Eagle River Walmart

Two Anchorage residents were charged with second-degree theft after attempting to steal $800 worth of merchandise from the Walmart in Eagle River on Jan. 20. Corena Bell, 32, and Billy Ray Goodwin, 42, tried to steal a laptop and cold medicine, Myren said.

In an unrelated case, three unidentified people stole a shopping cart containing an unknown value of items from Walmart on Jan. 18. Myren said the suspects were two males and a female.

DUI arrests

• Chugiak’s Bryan Vucic, 41, was charged with driving under the influence after he was stopped for speeding near North Birchwood Loop and Pilots Road on Jan. 18 at 12:56 a.m. He provided a breath sample of .120, Myren said. The legal limit is .08. Vucic was taken to Anchorage Jail with bail set at $500.

• Eagle River’s Christopher Mittlestadt, 38, was charged with driving under the influence after he was stopped for speeding and running a stop sign at Eleonora Street and Iris Way in Eagle River on Jan. 19 at 3:24 a.m. He provided a breath sample of .155, Myren said. Mittlestadt was taken to Anchorage Jail with bail set at $2,000.

• Wasilla’s Dayna Pendergraft, 33, was charged with driving under the influence after being stopped for speeding near the Eklutna exit on the Glenn Highway on Jan. 22 at 12:10 a.m. After providing a breath sample of 0.00, Pendergraft had blood drawn, Myren said. APD was still waiting for the results as of Friday, Jan. 24. Pendergraft was taken to Anchorage Jail with bail set at $250.

Charges are merely accusations; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.